How to Landscape to Eliminate Ticks

Ticks are small, parasitic arachnids.

Ticks are parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of humans and many animals. Although this fact in itself is unpleasant enough, ticks become even less agreeable when coupled with the fact that they can carry serious diseases, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you live in an area known to have high tick populations, the best way to protect your family and pets from these parasites is with a pesticide application. It is possible, however, to reduce the tick population on your property with landscaping.

1

Create direct sunlight in areas of the landscape that are frequently used. You can do this by creating useful areas in spaces that already receive direct sunlight or clearing away brush and thinning tree limbs to eliminate heavily shaded areas.

2

Remove ground cover plants and tall grasses near patios, walkways, decks, swing sets, sandboxes and other areas frequently used and traveled. Replace plants in these areas with hardscaping such as gravel, concrete pavers, bricks or container plants.

3

Lay a swatch of mulch, wood chips or gravel at least 3 feet wide between the edge of neighboring woodlands and your lawn. This mulch barrier should also be placed between your lawn and stone walls, which offer many hiding places for rodents who might carry ticks.

4

Choose landscape plants that do not attract deer, such as bleeding heart (Dicentra), lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina), lantana (Lantana montevidensis), Russian sage (Perovskia) and butterfly bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis). If you are planting vegetables or other deer-attracting plants, screen or fence them so that the deer are not lured to them. This prevents deer from visiting your property and possibly carrying ticks with them.

5

Mow frequently, and keep your landscape free of fallen leaves, brush and other plant litter. Remember to keep the area around woodpiles and stone walls clear. Move any bird feeders away from your house and other heavily trafficked areas, and keep the ground underneath them clean.

6

Fill large, unused open space with a butterfly garden, Colonial garden or native wildflower garden. According to The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, all three of these garden types harbor fewer ticks than woodland settings and can serve as a protective barrier between wooded areas and homes.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 2,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.